Automatic reseting toggle arm

ABSTRACT

A TOGGLE OR SIMILAR DEVICE HAVING A UNIQUE OPERATING ARM. THE ARMS INCLUDES A RELEASING DEVICE BY WHICH THE TOGGLE CAN BE RELEASED. THE RELEASING DEVICE INCLUDES A LATCH ON ONE PART OF THE HANDLE ADAPTED TO HOLD THE OTHER PART, AND A LATCH RELEASE ON THE TOGGLE TO ENGAGE THE LATCH AND RELEASE IT. THE LATCH IS ADAPTED TO RE-ENGAGE SO THAT REPEATED OPERATION IS POSSIBLE.

1971 H. L. SUNDERMANN 3,525,083

AUTOMATIC RESETTING TOGGLE ARM Filed Aug. 15, 1969 INVENTOR.

onry L Sundormunn BY :4/

United States Patent 3,625,088 AUTOMATIC RESETTING TOGGLE ARM Henry L. Sundermann, Box 79, R.R. 4, Sioux Falls, S. Dak. 57101 Filed Aug. 15, 1969, Ser. No. 850,461 Int. Cl. Gg 1/04 U.S. Cl. 74520 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toggle or similar device having a unique operating arm. The arm includes a releasing device by which the toggle can be released. The releasing device includes a latch on one part of the handle adapted to hold the other part, and a latch release on the toggle to engage the latch and release it. The latch is adapted to re-engage so that repeated operation is possible.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to a toggle device and more particularly to an operating mechanism for such a device by which repeated pulls will alternately set and release an over-the-center toggle.

Many devices are currently operated by toggle means. Among such devices are brakes on hand trucks and overhead trucks. Valve mechanisms may also be so operated. Often such devices are in a position difficult to reach so they must be operated by remote control. Such controls are available for power operation, but power controls are relatively expensive for many applications.

By my device I provide a device for operating a toggle by which a pull on a rope or the like will act alternately to set and release the toggle. Thus, if the toggle was to be set, a single pull on the rope would be required. In order to release the toggle, another pull is required. Thus, by a simple means, the toggle can be controlled from a distance by use of an inexpensive release means.

A more complete understanding of my invention in its embodiment may be had from the following specifications and the figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the toggle incorporating the release means of my invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1, with the toggle set,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the toggle released and the latch mechanism open, and

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the latch mechanism broken out of the other mechanism and in the latched position.

DESCRIPTION Briefly my invention comprises a latch and release mechanism for an operating device, especially a toggle device, by which the operating device may be moved from one position to another and reversed again by consecutive pulls on a rope or the like.

More specifically, and referring to the drawing, my invention is particularly adapted to spring-loaded devices like a toggle. As illustrated, a toggle mechanism including a framework adapted to be fixed to a wall or the like by means of a pad 11 may be used. The pad is a part of an enclosure having a pair of side walls 12 and a back wall 13 as well as the front wall formed by the pad. An operating plunger 14 is slidably journaled in the side walls 12. A compression spring 15 surrounds the plunger and is engaged between one of the side walls and a collar 16 on the plunger to urge the plunger in one direction. That direction is towards the open position of the toggle.

The toggle mechanism includes a principal arm 18 pivotally connected to the plunger 14 and at least one short arm 19 connected between the long arm 18 and the frame 10. The pivot points between the arm and for each arm to the frame are set so that as the toggle is closed, the point 20 between the two arms passes beyond the line between the other two axes 21 and 22. In this way, the toggle goes over the center so that the spring, while normally urging the toggle to its open position as shown in FIG. 3, also tends to hold the device closed (FIG. 2) because the pivotal axis has gone over the center.

The novel latch means by which the toggle is operated is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This latch holds the operating arm in a normally straight position. However, a release of the latch is possible and then the arm breaks as shown in FIG. 3.

The actual mechanism includes a housing 25 embracing the free end of the arm 18 and pivoted thereto. An extension arm 26 is fixed in the housing so that it is permanently held as a part of the housing. A latch pawl 27 is pivotally mounted within the housing 25 in a position between the ends of the arms 18 and 26. The end of the arm 18 nearest the latch is formed with a rounded nose 28 adapted to be caught by a hook 29 on the latch. A compression spring 30 engaged between the latch 27 and the adjacent end of the arm 26 urges the hook normally into engagement with the nose 28.

With the hook properly engaged, a pull on the lever 26 in a direction downward as illustrated in FIG. 2 will cause the entire assembly to pull as a unit. It will be obvious that a rope or the like could be utilized to transmit the pull to this lever. Disengagement of the hook, however, can be effected. The means by which this is accomplished includes a leaf spring 32 attached to the frame 10. A turned-up tip 33 on the spring forms a cam by which the latch is released. The tip 33 is positioned to engage a follower end 34 on the latch and to urge it to a position disengaged from the arm 18.

In operation, the arm is normally straight with the hook 27 engaging the nose 28. Assuming the arm to be straight and the toggle to be open, a pull on the arm would cause the arm to move in a direction to close the toggle; and as the pivot point 20 went past center, the spring 15 would cause it to hold its closed position.

At about this point in the operation, the end 34 of the latch would engage the tip 33. So long as there was a steady pull on the arm, the friction between the hook 29 and the nose 28 would keep the latch engaged. However, upon release of the pull as the toggle went over the center, the spring 32 would urge the tip 33 to cam the end 34 in a direction to release the latch. When the pressure was released, the latch would disengage.

A subsequent pull on the arm 26 would cause it or the housing 25 to engage an abutment member 36 on the framework 10. The lever action of a pull on the outer end of the arm 26 using the abutment 36 as a fulcrum, will cause the arm to break from its straight position, and a sufiicient pull would again pull the pivot point 20 back beyond center so that the toggle will spring open.

Usually, the quickness of the opening action will fling the arm 26 outward to a straight position again, thus reengaging the latch. However, if necessary, a spring arrangement 37 could be provided to cause the arm to straighten and again to latch for a subsequent pull to again close the toggle. Thus, I provide a stepped arrangement whereby a first pull will close the toggle and a second pull will open it.

I claim:

1. A toggle device comprising a framework; springloaded over-the-center toggle means mounted on said framework and including an operating arm; releasable latch means on said arm and release means on said framework, said releasable latch means providing unidirectional stepped operating means and being engageable with said release means whereby successive operating motions in the same direction alternately open and close said toggle.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said operating arm includes a principal arm, housing means pivotally connected to said principal arm, said housing means including an extension arm, said latch means being carried by said housing and normally engaged with said principal arm whereby a pull on said extension will be transmitted to said principal arm, said release means on said framework adapted to engage said latch means as said arms arrive at a predetermined point in their travel.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said release means includes a spring-like device on said framework in position to engage said latch means.

,4. The device of claim 3 in which said spring means has a tip formed as a cam and said latch is formed to provide a release surface adapted to engage said cam to release said latch.

5. The device of claim 2 in which abutment means are mounted on said framework in position to be en- 4 gaged by said housing when said extension is pulled, after release of said latch.

6. Operating arm means comprising a framework, a principal arm movably connected to said framework, housing means pivotally journalled to said principal arm, said housing means including an extension, latch means in said housing releasably holding said housing and said principal arm in fixed angular position, release means mounted on said framework in position to engage said latch means to allow pivotal motion between said principal arm and said housing and abutment means an said framework in position to be engaged by said housing and extension after said latch is released.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,396,942 3/1946 Couch 74-520 X 2,514,130 7/1950 Jones 81-370 2,590,750 3/1952 Burns 81371 2,920,518 1/1960 LaPointe 81380 X 2,854,852 10/1958 Clark 74- 523 X W. F. ODEA, Primary Examiner F. D. SHOEMAKER, Assistant Examiner 

